A doctor house call in Berlin is a medical examination and treatment in your own home, hotel, or care facility, in which a licensed physician usually arrives within 60 to 90 minutes of the telephone request. The private medical on-call service RAB Berlin is available daily from 6 a.m. to midnight on 030 550 77 870 – including weekends and public holidays. This guide explains when a house call makes sense, who comes, how long it takes, how the process works, and what costs arise under the German scale of medical fees (GOÄ).
What is a doctor house call?
A doctor house call is a complete medical consultation outside the practice, covering history-taking, physical examination, diagnosis, and treatment decision. On site, the physician measures vital signs such as blood pressure, pulse, and oxygen saturation, assesses the complaints clinically, and decides whether outpatient treatment is sufficient. Unlike a telephone consultation, the assessment of your condition takes place directly with the patient. A house call is therefore a regular part of outpatient care and does not replace emergency rescue via the 112 emergency number.
When does a house call make sense in Berlin?
A house call is indicated whenever a medical assessment is necessary but the trip to a practice would represent a considerable additional burden. Typical reasons include acute infections with high fever, pronounced cold and flu symptoms, gastrointestinal illness with a risk of dehydration, urinary tract infections, and severe back or joint pain that makes movement difficult. A worsening of chronic conditions such as COPD, asthma, or heart failure can also require a prompt examination at home.
Patients with limited mobility benefit in particular: older or care-dependent people, individuals after surgery, families with small children, and those without their own vehicle. In a large city like Berlin, with its high population density, long distances, and full waiting rooms, the house call is often the gentler alternative – it avoids waiting times and reduces the risk of additional infection in the waiting room.
House call, on-call service 116117, or emergency number 112?
The right point of contact depends on the urgency of the complaints. For life-threatening symptoms such as unconsciousness, suspected heart attack or stroke, severe shortness of breath, intense chest pain, or uncontrollable bleeding, only the 112 emergency number is responsible – every minute counts, and the rescue service arrives within minutes. The number 116117 connects you with the statutory on-call medical service for acute but non-life-threatening complaints outside practice hours. A private house call such as that from RAB Berlin is suited to acute but stable complaints that require a prompt medical assessment without inpatient care appearing necessary.
Which doctor makes house calls in Berlin?
In principle, any resident physician can make house calls, but is not always obliged to do so – in practice, many family doctors offer house calls only to long-standing regular patients, and even then often only at certain times. Outside office hours, the statutory on-call service is theoretically responsible but arranges house calls only when transport incapacity has been established; anyone who can theoretically walk is usually referred to the on-call practice. At RAB Berlin, by contrast, the house call is the core service and not an exception. Visits are carried out exclusively by experienced physicians licensed in Germany from various specialties – including general medicine, internal medicine, paediatrics, and emergency medicine.
How quickly does the doctor arrive? Waiting times in Berlin
As a rule, the house call by RAB Berlin takes place within 60 to 90 minutes of the telephone request. At quieter times of day or with short travel distances in central districts, arrival is often faster; at busy periods such as Sunday morning, public holidays, or during flu waves, the waiting time can be somewhat longer. The dispatch team gives a realistic time estimate at the time of booking and actively calls back in the event of notable delays. By comparison, the statutory on-call service can involve waiting times of two to four hours due to limited capacity and a large catchment area, because house calls there are prioritised by urgency.
The house call process – step by step
The process is clearly structured and usually comprises five steps:
- Getting in touch: You reach RAB Berlin by phone on 030 550 77 870 or via online booking. Your request is taken directly by medical staff – with no anonymous call centre.
- Initial assessment: A physician briefly assesses your condition by phone and checks whether a house call is suitable or another form of care would be required.
- Travel: As a rule, the doctor arrives within 60 to 90 minutes – at home, in the hotel, or at the workplace.
- Examination and treatment: On site, history-taking, physical examination, and a check of vital signs take place. If needed, medication is prescribed, a sick note is issued, or further diagnostics are arranged.
- Billing: Privately insured patients submit the invoice to their insurer; self-payers receive a transparent invoice that can be settled in cash or by card.
What services are possible during a house call?
A house call covers a broad spectrum because the physician brings diagnostic devices, dressing material, and common medications. Possible measures include blood pressure, blood sugar, and oxygen measurement, ECG, rapid tests (for example COVID-19, influenza, or CRP), injections and infusions, wound care, and pain and infusion therapy. The doctor can issue prescriptions, certificates, referrals, and the electronic sick note (eAU), which is transmitted directly to the health insurer. Complex imaging diagnostics such as X-ray or CT are not possible in the home, but can be arranged if needed – as can inpatient admission, should this be medically necessary.
Special services: hotel, office, and more
The house call is not limited to private homes. RAB Berlin also visits patients in hotels or at the workplace – an advantage for business travellers and tourists who fall ill suddenly and do not want to go to an emergency room. On request, certificates are additionally issued in English, which speeds up reimbursement by international travel and overseas health insurers. Paediatric house calls are also possible when a child falls ill and the trip to the practice is difficult.
What does a doctor house call in Berlin cost?
The cost of a private house call follows the German scale of medical fees (GOÄ) and depends on the time of day, the day of the week, and the scope of the services provided. As a guide, a daytime house call often falls in the range of about 150 to 300 euros, while in the evening, at weekends, or on public holidays the surcharges regulated by the GOÄ can bring the total to around 250 euros. Privately insured patients and those entitled to government subsidy (Beihilfe) are usually fully reimbursed, as billing follows the GOÄ. Statutory patients can use the service as self-payers; reimbursement by the statutory health insurer is generally not provided in that case. You will find a detailed breakdown of prices and reimbursement on the Costs page.
Frequently asked questions about doctor house calls in Berlin
How quickly does a doctor arrive for a house call in Berlin?
As a rule, the doctor from RAB Berlin arrives within 60 to 90 minutes of your request. In central districts and at quieter times it is often faster, while at peak times such as Sunday morning or public holidays the waiting time can be somewhat longer. You receive a realistic time estimate at the time of booking.
What does a house call cost and who pays for it?
A house call is billed under the GOÄ and usually costs between about 150 and 300 euros depending on the time and scope. Privately insured patients and those entitled to Beihilfe are usually fully reimbursed, as are many travel and overseas health insurers. Self-payers receive a transparent invoice that can be settled in cash or by card. Details are on the Costs page.
When should I call 112 instead of requesting a house call?
For life-threatening symptoms such as unconsciousness, severe shortness of breath, intense chest pain, suspected heart attack or stroke, or severe bleeding, call the 112 emergency number immediately. The house call is intended for acute but stable complaints and does not replace emergency rescue; when in doubt, the emergency number always applies.
Can I get a sick note during a house call?
Yes. The licensed physicians of RAB Berlin issue official sick notes (Arbeitsunfähigkeitsbescheinigung) that are recognised by all employers and health insurers. The electronic sick note (eAU) is transmitted directly to your health insurer on request; you also receive a paper copy. On request, the certificate is also available in English.
Which documents should I have ready for the house call?
It helps to have your insurance card or your private health insurance policy, a valid form of ID, and a current list of your medications with dosages ready. Previous findings, an allergy passport, and a vaccination record also make treatment easier. Missing documents are not an obstacle – treatment is provided even without complete documentation, and missing details can be added later.
Conclusion
A doctor house call is an established, medically sound form of care that offers advantages over a practice visit in many situations – especially for older people, families with small children, the chronically ill, and patients after surgery. In Berlin, the RAB service enables individual care in familiar surroundings within 60 to 90 minutes, avoids unnecessary journeys, and at the same time relieves emergency rooms and on-call practices. If you need medical help between 6 a.m. and midnight and there is no emergency, you can reach RAB Berlin on 030 550 77 870 or via online booking.